Animal trap



July 2l, 19 3v1. n R. L.. Bo1-1ANNON ANIMAL TRAP Filed May 5. 1928 Wl 6 la f o 4 ma el n.11. lw/Il l 5 y y O/ INVENToR. y

ROBERT L. Boum/vow A TTORNEY Patented July 21, 1931 STATES PATENT; `opriep:

noBERrLr-:n BoHANNoN, or BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA; AssIGNoR'oF rIrTY-ONE ONE- HUNDREDTHS rro AUGUST ADRIAN THIEL, or OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA ANIMAL TRAP Application filed Nay 5, 192s. seal No. 276,292;

invention relates to trap off knock-down .structure designed. lto entrap animals alive and withouthurting them.

Ant object of theinvention isI to Vprovide a knoek-downtralp .of the class described which is formedlof aminimuin number of elements.`

Another objectof the invention is to providea trap of the elass described in which the means.y for securing,- the elements together is disposed for ready availability from the outside of the trap.` i l Y A further object of the invention i-s topro- Vide atrap of the `class described in which the various wall elements are arranged to bey f5 nested together in particularly compactwre-l lation. when the trap is in knocked-down form@ I vAstill furtherI objeet of the invention pistol im provide a trap of the classdescribed audible signal means 'operable .when the trap is sprung ata pointremote from the trap.

.The invention possesses other objects and features of-advantage7 some of which, with m.- the foregoing, will be set forth inthe follow- 2`5` ing descriptionof the preferred form ofthe invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. `It .is to be understood, how-V f ever, that variations; inthe `showing made S bythe said drawings and descriptionmay be adopted within the scope of the invention asl setforth in the claims.f

Re erringto said drawings,

ments ofthe structurebeing spaced from their-...operative positions. e Y .i l; y s .Figure 2 is a..reduced viewshowing the trap in longitudinal lside section. and an electric signal circuit associated with the trap, the showing of the-.latter being grammatic;

. Essentially7A and as shown,v the trap of` g inventioncomprises `a vbottom panel 3,A side panels 4, a toppanel 5, and end panels 6, the latter `constituting doors ,for the trap. .The bottom7 side, and top panels arearrangedto be releasably `Vsecured. together a at their-V regi-stering, edges', `byhmeans to be lhereinafter more particularly described, and the door Figure 1 is a perspective view ofy a trap; Vembodying the invention, certain of.theiele partly dia panels 6 are slidably mounted in frarnesflv disposed and held at the ends of the structure defined by the former panels. As shown,

each ofsthe aforesaid panels comprises a continuous rectangular frame formed of ajlength of metallic rod or wire 'and carrying a sec# tion V'of metallic grating 8 of suitable mesh. Within the area delined by its frame, it beingclear, however, thatsome or all ofthe panels might be imperforate if such is desired.

l The means for securing the various panels in their proper positions in a set up trap are preferably provided as `parts of the panel structures as far as such is possible. As particularly shown, eyes 9 are providedin the bottom panel 3, said eyes projectinginwardly from theL side portions of the 'panel frame member 11 adjacent the ends of said portions and in the plane of the grating 8, and beingwelded or otherwise fiXedto the frame inember 11` `whereby it is integrally related thereto.

Provided onthe bottom edge portion of the fra-Inei 12 of the side panels 4 are hooks 13,"

said hooks extending transversely inwardly fromthe panels 4 and being engageable in the eyes `9v of the bottom panel 3 whereby a` lateral displacement of the side panels with respect to? the bottom panel may be prevented when the hooks are engaged in the eyes 9 and the side panels 4 extend transversely upwardly from' the plane of the bottompanel. Preferably, and as shown, the

it will nowv be noted, comprise. a wire; or Q rod shaped in the general form ,of an inverted U having its side members' 16 parallel@ Pairs of eyes 117 extendglaterally from theisides of the door Vpanels 6, said eyes being disposed perpendicularly toV the plane, of the panel for the reception of the framemembers 16, whereby the door panels are slidably engaged with the door frames. Preferably,

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and as shown, the eyes 1T are iixedly related to the door panels by being integrally secured to the frame members 18 of such panels. Formed at the bottom of the door frame members 1G are hooks 19, said hooks extending transversely inwardly from the members 1G and the plane of the door frame, and being generally coplanar with `their members 1G. rlhe hooks 19 are arranged for engagement in the eyes 14 of the side panels whereby a lateral displacement of a door frame with respect to the bottom panel may be prevented when the hoolis 19 thereof are engaged in the eyes 1,4 of the opposed ends of the side panels 4 and the door frame exten-ds transversely upwardly from the plane of the bottom panel 3.

It ywill now be clear that the side panels 4 are arranged for a pivotal and releasable engagement of the Ybottoms thereof with the bottom panel 3, that the door frames 7 are in turn arranged for a pivotal and releasable engagement with the side panels 4, and that when the side panels 4 and frames 7 Vare disposed to extend transversely upwardly of the bottom panel 3 with the side edges of the frames generally parallel to the frame members 1G, the various members are locked together against disengagement and the trap receptacle is defined.

Means are provided for so mounting the top panel 5 on the structure now defined that it not only serves as a top closure for the trap receptacle but also serves to hold the side panels and door frames fixed 1n the hereinbefore described receptacledefining relation. Extending laterally from the top panel 5 at oppoiste side edges thereof and ad gacent the ends of said edges are eyes 21, said eyes being disposed in the plane f the panel and being preferably formed integral with the panel frame 22 shown. Then the top panel is operatively disposed, the side edges thereof are arranged to lie substantialy inthe planes oi' the side panels 4 whereby the eyes 21 exten-d outwardly of said planes. Eyes 23 are provided at the top edges of the side panels 4, said eyes extending transversely outwardly from their panels in parallel and un-derlying relation to the different eyes 21 whereby the eye openings of each pair are aligned. Preferably, and as shown, the eyes21 and 22 are integral with Y the panel frames which carry them.

Mounted on the door frame members 1G to extend transversely therefrom are members providing eyes 24, the planes of said eyes being generally perpendicular to said members and parallel to the planes of the eyes 21 and 23. Then the structure is assembled in the manner hereinbefore indicated, each eye 24 is arranged to be disposed at and against at least one of the eyes 21 or 23 of a cooperating pair and with its opening in alignment with the openings of said eyes--in relation.

the present structure, each eye 24 is arranged for engagement between the eyes 21 and 23 thereat, it being noted that sets of register ing eyes 21, 23 and 24 are provided adjacent each of the four upper corners of the structure. Preferably, and as shown, the members providing the eyes 24 are integrally iixed to the door frame members 16 which carry them. With the sets of eyes in registration as described, suitable fastening meinbers, such as bolts 2S, are passed therethrough whereby the Cage parts are secured in iixed The disposal of the various eyes outwardly of the panels, it will be particularly noted, is designed to facilitate a setting up or taking apart of the trap structure, as well as leaving the trap space free of protruding members which might injure an animal seeking to escape from the trap.

The doors 6, it will now be noted, are ar ranged to operate as drops for closing the end openings of the trap, and each door frame 7 is accordingly of such height as to permit a raising of its door therein to a fully opened position. For holding the doors in raised position, eyes 27 are provided on each top cross member 23 ofthe door frames, through which a cord 29 attached to the top of the door is arranged to be slidably engaged, the free end of the cord being arranged to be releasably held by a suitable trigger mecha nism provided in the trap. As shown, the free Ycord end is provided with a loop 31 through which a bar 32 pivoted at one end to the bottom panel 3 is arranged to be passed. With the bai-32 engaged through the cord loop 31, the free bar end is arranged to be engaged under a catch member or trigger 33 hingedly carried on the bottom panel 3 and arranged to have the bait (not shown) fixed thereto.. In this manner, an animal in pulling on the bait to displace the catch 33 in a direction to free the bar 32 is arranged to release the door for permitting a free dropping thereof to its closed position. It will be noted, however, that other door holding and release means might be used without departing from the spirit of the present invention. It will be clear that either one or both of the doors may be set in the manner described.

Detent means are preferably provided whereby, when a door is dropped, it may be positively and releasably held against raising. As shown, a spring bar 34. is provided on each door, said bar extending upwardly from the bottom edge of the door and beingr formed at its upper end to provide a crotch 36. Fixed across the door frames 7 in outwardly oifset relation thereto, and to the doors are members 37, said members being here shown as generally U-shaped and disposed with their planes horizontal. YVhen a door is raised, the spring bar, 34 is arranged to slidably engage the intermediate portion noted that the door mounting and control means are identical at the two ends of the trap, whereby either one or both of the Vdoors may be set inV open position as desired. If both doors are to be set in open position, they would, of course, be connected to the same trigger mechanism.

It will now be noted that the trap structure `of the present invention is particularly designed for capturing animals generally one at a time and without injuring them. In 0r,-` der that a trap may be used most efficiently and an entrapped animal may not be unduly exposed therein, signal means are preferably provided whereby a trapper may be advised of the closing of the trap. Where a plurality of traps is set, the signal means for all the traps set should be at a central point. Or, if the condition of a trap is to be ascertained from a dwelling, a signal means might desirably be provided in or at the dwelling. Since, in either case, the distances involved may be considerable and the operation of a loud alarm is usually undesirable, an electrically controlled signal is provided inthe present instance as being particularly a plicable.

Mountec on. the ends of the top panel 5 are switch blocks 39 carrying switches 41. As shown, the switches each comprise a contact point 42 and a spring contact member 43 arranged, when the associated door is inv closed position, to be depressed to engage the point 42. For effecting a closure of the switches 41, arms 44 are provided on the doors 6, said arms extending suiiiciently inwardly from the top edges of the doors for engaging the contact members 43 of the switches. The switches 41V are connected in a signal circuit 46, said circuit being here shown as including a bell 47 as a signal means therein, it being obvious however, that, if desired, the circuit 46 might include a lamp or other form of signal means without departing from the spirit of the invention. Suitable switch means 48 are preferably provided for selectively including the different switches 41 in the signal circuit. In this manner, an observer may be immediately apprised of the springing of a trap, whereby a maximum use ably engaged with said side panels, a top panel, and means on said panels and frame whereby they may be releasably secured in lrelatively fixed relation, said means including members extending inwardl of and being integral with said frame Van coacting members extending laterally outward from said panels.

2. In an animal trap, a bottom panel, opposed side panels hingedly and releasably engaged at the bottom thereof with said bottom panel, a door for closing an end of the trap, a frame for said door hingedly and releasably engaged at the bottom thereof with and be tween said side panels, a top panel, and eyes integral with said panels and frame arranged to be disposed in registering relation for the reception of a bolt or the like therethrough for releasably securing the panels and frame in fixed relation.

3. In an animal trap, a bottom panel, opposed side panels releasably engaged at the bottom thereof with said bottom panel, a door for closing an end of the trap, a frame for said door, means on said side panels and frame providing for a releasable engagement of the frame with and between said panels adjacent the bottom thereof, said means lying transversely outwardly of said side panels,

and means releasably securing said frame to said side panels adjacent the top edges thereof, said latter means comprising coacting elements lying transversely outwardly of said side panels, and elements on the frame extending inwardly thereof to position of reg. istration with the first named elements.

4. In a knock down animal trap, bottom,

side and top panels respectively releasably secured together to define a receptacle having an open end; a door for said open trap end; a frame for said door; and cooperating means on said frame and panels for releasably securing said frame to the receptacle, said means lying entirely outwardly of the cavity of said receptacle, and including elements extending inward from said frame and substantially parallel with said side panels.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Oroville, California, this 28 day of JApril, 1928. Y v

ROBERT LEE BOHANNON.

of the trap is afforded and an undue exposure y of an entrapped animal is arranged to be avoided.

I claim:

1. In a knock down animal trap, a bottom panel, opposed side panels releasably engaged with said bottom panel, a door for closing an end of the trap, a frame for said door releas- 

